Synthesis and electrochromic properties of aromatic polyetherimides based on a triphenylamine-dietheramine monomer

A series of electroactive polyetherimides (PEIs) with triphenylamine (TPA) units were prepared from the polycondensation reactions of 4,4-bis(p-aminophenoxy)triphenylamine with aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydrides via a conventional two-step technique. The PEIs showed high thermal stability, with glass-transition temperatures of 234-282 degrees C and decomposition temperatures in excess of 500 degrees C. They showed well-defined and reversible redox couples during both p- and n-doping processes, together with multielectrochromic behaviors. These polymers exhibited enhanced redox-stability and electrochromic performance as compared with the corresponding analogs without the phenoxy spacer between the TPA and imide units. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 2925-2938